Conquest and Control

Created by

Sophie Hamilton-Mills

Cards (44)

What was Government like before 1066?
Ruled by King Edward the Confessor
Followed a time of instability
Country divided into Earldoms
Earls could be very powerful
The king could take away and give land as a reward
What was Population like before 1066?
Around 2 million
Majority living in south of country
What was Society like before 1066?
Clear hierarchy
King > Earls and Clergy > Peasants
What was Defence like before 1066?
2500 - 3000 professional soldiers called housecarls
Could call upon peasants to fight in a time of need
What was Religion like before 1066?
Catholic Church was very powerful
Church owned large amounts of land
Made rules on everything like marriage and inheritance
What was Wealth like before 1066?
England was a target for foreign raiders
Costal areas at risk from people like the Vikings
Traded with other countries like France
Advanced economic system
Who were the most powerful family in Anglo-Saxon England?
The Godwins
How could a claim to the throne be made?
The king' son would have the strongest claim
Another male relative
A male relative of the previous king
The king could name a successor (post obitum)
The king could name someone on his deathbed (novissima verba)
The Witan could nominate someone
Claimants could use force to take the throne
Who were the four claimants to the throne when Edward died?
H arold G odwinson
E dgar the A etheling
W illiam D uke of N ormandy
H arald H ardrada
What was Harold Godwinson's claim?
He became sub-regulus - a deputy king
He was Edward's brother-in-law
He was loyal to Edward
He claimed Edward had promised him the throne on his deathbed
He had the support of the Witan
What was Edgar the Aetheling's claim?
He was the great nephew of Edward
He was treated as Edward's adopted son
Edgar had the support of many Earls
He was a teenager so lacked experience
What was William Duke of Normandy's claim?
He was a distant cousin of Edward
He claimed Edward had promised him the throne
It was argued that Edward's rule suggested he wanted a Norman to succeed him
What was Harald Hardrada's claim?
He was related to the previous king - King Cnut
He claimed his father had been promised the throne by King Cnut's son
Why didn't William invade England straight away?
The wind made it so he couldn't sail to England.
It was also strategy where he amassed his military forces whilst also preparing political and religious support for his campaign.
What were William's military preparations?
Produced weapons.
Had no navy so made flat-bottomed boats to transport horses.
Flat-pack castles made
> could put up temporary castles quickly
> protection and a place to stay
Recruited men all over France - 8000 total
> promised land and riches
> many joined to be a part of a Holy War
How did William gain the support of God?
Persuaded Pope that English Church needed changing.
Pope gave William the Papal Banner.
Made the battle a Holy War.
How did William get across the Channel?
Moved fleet so journey to England was shorter - 20 miles.
Ensured men were well fed and they did not suffer.
Insisted on total discipline of soldiers.
How did William gain French support?
Extended area of authority over neighbouring provinces before invading England.
Conquered the French province of Maine in 1063.
Good relationship with the pervious French King.
He was the most powerful man in north-west Europe so had the most support.
What was the Battle of Fulford Gate?
> Hardrada and around 7000 Vikings were joined by Tostig Godwinson, Harold Godwinson's brother.
> The English were commanded by Earls Edwin and Morcar, the army consisted of around 3500 men
> The initial English attack took the Vikings by surprise but Viking numbers overwhelmed the Anglo-Saxon army and they were defeated.
> Hardrada was victorious and took 150 hostages to Stamford Bridge where he was promised another 3000
What was the Battle of Stamford Bridge?
> Godwinson reassembled his army and led them to the North.
> He launched a surprise attack on the Viking camp where Hardrada was unprepared.
> Hardrada and Tostig were both killed in the bloody battle and Harold let Harald's son return to Norway under the promise they would not invade again.
Why did Harald win at Fulford Gate and not Stamford Bridge?
At Fulford, he had heavily outnumbered the English.
The English were led by Earls Edwin and Morcar at Fulford, not the king.
At Stamford, the resting Vikings were not prepared and their armour and weapons were on boats 25km away.
This time, the English were led by Harold and the army was larger.
How did the armies of Harold and William compare?
Harold - around 7000, mostly the fyrd (peasant army), specialist soldiers like housecarls and thegns, survivors of the pervious battles were exhausted.
William - 7000 men (soldiers and mercenaries), skilled archers and cavalry, men were well rested and had built motte and bailey castles.
How did the weaponry and armour of Harold and William compare?
Harold - circular shields, housecarls had armour, peasants used pitchforks and farming equipment, took weapons from fallen soldiers.
William - large tear-shaped shields, bow and arrows, horses trained to bite and kick in battle
How did the battle strategies of Harold and William compare?
Harold - shield wall, all soldiers on foot including Harold.
William - army organised into divisions, soldiers on horseback and archers to wear down enemy, flag system to change tactics.
How did the positions on the battlefield of Harold and William compare?
Harold - top of Senlac Hill.
William - at the base of Senlac Hill with marsh land either side.
How did the leaders of the Anglo-Saxon and Norman army compare?
Harold - experienced general who had fought Vikings and the Welsh, many English supporters including the Witan.
William - conquered areas around Normandy, supported by the Pope and France as well as the leaders of the states that bordered Normandy.
What happened at the Battle of Hastings?
> Anglo-Saxons had formed a shield wall which the Norman cavalry and archers found difficult to get through.
> Some Normans ran back which caused members of the fyrd to break the shield wall and chase after them which resulted in their death - William ordered more feigned retreats and wore down the Anglo-Saxon line.
> William changed tactics and moved his archers to the front - they fired upwards which landed on the Anglo-Saxons.
> William made one final push and at some point Harold was killed which ended the battle.
How did Harold's mistakes help William win the Battle of Hastings?
> The Anglo-Saxons couldn't rest after having 2 battles in the north and marching south
> Harold did not gather more troops
> He had disbanded his army due to the harvest
> He was aware of the feigned retreats but his men still fell for it
> Harold was on foot which made it difficult to command his men
How did William's tactics help him win at the Battle of Hastings?
> His men believed God was on their side as they were fighting under the Papal Banner
> The Normans were well organised and William could be seen and communicate easily
> He had archers and cavalry
> He chose the battle site
> The feigned retreats helped to break Harold's shield wall
How did Luck help William win at the Battle of Hastings?
> The weather had delayed his invasion
> Hardrada had invaded at the same time which forced Harold to fight at two ends of the country
> William's army had time to rest before the battle
What methods of control did William use after the Battle of Hastings?
> Terrorised towns
> Set up trade to and from Normandy
> Asserted control over the English Catholic Church
> Made earls and bishops swear an oath of fealty (loyalty) to him
> Distributed land to Norman barons
What castles did William build?
The first types of castles were Motte and Bailey castles.
Some were rebuilt in stone to give them strength.
Why were Motte and Bailey castles built?
> to act as a centre of administration in an area
> to protect Norman settlers - particularly new lords
> to intimidate the local population and show power
> to establish control over an area like on the Welsh border
> to symbolise the feudal system with the lords at the top and peasants at the bottom
Where were castles built?
> areas of strategic importance - e.g. old Roman sites
> on high ground to see attackers coming
> near existing towns
> near water supplies and other resources
> near natural defences like cliffs and rivers
What was the rebellion by Edwin and Morcar?
1066 - Edwin and Morcar (who led the Anglo-Saxon army at the Battle of Fulford Gate) led a rebellion in London after the Battle of Hastings. It was quickly shut down and the two had to swear an oath of fealty to William in return for them keeping their land and titles.
What was the revolt of the Norman earls?
1075 - rebellion led by Ralph de Gael and Roger of Breteuil which was also supported by the King of France. It was put down with brutal force. Many rebels were killed and Roger was imprisoned.
What were the causes of the Harrying of the North?
> Edwin, Morcar and Edgar the Aetheling fled north and Edgar made a claim on William's throne
> King Malcolm of Scotland (who had married Edgar's sister) supported this claim
> A Norman earl was murdered by English rebels and a bishop's house was set on fire
> Edgar attacked the city of York
> Viking ships came to England and joined Edgar's army
> This army took control of York Castle
What was the Harrying of the North?
> William paid the Vikings to leave England
> William slaughtered the livestock, burned the crops and salted the land in the north
> It is William's response to the rebellions that is the Harrying of the North
What were the consequences of the Harrying of the North?
> Farmers lost income and peasants starved
> In the Domesday Book, 80 % of Yorkshire is said to be wasted
> William faced little trouble in Yorkshire after this
Who was Hereward the Wake?
An Anglo-Saxon rebel who was angry at William for taking land from his father.
He planned many campaigns to attack Norman settlers using guerrilla tactics in East Anglia.